Oysters are heroes, says the lady who has grown them for 35 years in Dungarvan Harbour - Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda General Manager and co-Founder of Waterford Oysters.

“They are underestimated, they are climate heroes. It’s an intensive business,” she tells SEASCAPES in the December Podcast, as her company celebrates 35 years exporting to countries around the world. “It’s not for the faint-hearted because there are bad years as well as very good years, but overall I really enjoy it.”

Also on this month’s Podcast:

•The Irish Polar Institute corrects a ‘mean action’ by Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton

•A new association wants more schools to encourage sailing 

•An Arctic whale arrives in Donegal

•And the crewman from an inland county who survived the Titanic

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month’s SEASCAPES Podcast highlights the work of marine pilots, who guide ships safely into and from our ports, carrying over 90 per cent of the country’s exports and imports.

Also on the Podcast - Why has the Government reduced funding in the Budget to fishing by nearly €20m. and– the shortage of seafarers.

There is an urgent need to recruit more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ship’s engineer who first arrived in Cork with the Dutch Smit Tak company for the development of the Kinsale Head Gas Field and stayed to run a marina, Wieste Buwalda, one of the most iconic figures in the marine sector, outlines the challenges of 40 years in the business as he retires, selling the marina to next door neighbour, the oldest yacht club in the world, the Royal Cork at Crosshaven. 

He discusses the difficulties of getting foreshore licences, bureaucracy in the Department of the Marine and why there should be more enjoyment in the sport of sailing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month’s podcast features two families, one from Cork which has invested in a multi-million Euro seafood centre and another whose members have given 140 years of service driving cranes in Waterford Port.

The Good family traces its maritime history back to running a ferry boat in Cork Harbour. The O’Hanlon’s work high above ships in Waterford to keep exports and imports moving.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There’s a wonderful vibrancy around the marine sector at the moment…..”

Those aren’t my words – they were spoken to me by Minister of State Timmy Dooley in his summary of the overall marine sphere In his first interview after two months in a dual maritime and fisheries post, which you can hear on this month’s SEASCAPES Podcast. Also, a discussion between the two sides of wind farm development and its effects on the fishing industry; €25m. spent by a Cork shipping company on a new survey vessel  and – is the Irish public ocean literate?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remembering a submarine explosion 105 years ago.

Also on this edition – Fish Farming will be a vital supplier of food to future generations … Are whales changing which parts of Ireland they visit

and the Waterford Estuary harbour which has changed, but not for the better…..

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The “insane” treatment of Ireland’s fishermen.”

 “The way the Irish fishing industry is treated about Bluefin Tuna is insane,” says John Shine, a leading figure for 20 years in the marketing and selling of Irish fish, highlighting that Irish fishermen are prevented from catching Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters, while other nations are allowed to do so.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.